Unlike many other studies on the African democratic experiment, the aim of African Democracy: Impediments, Promises and Prospects is to pinpoint and uncover the fractures in democratic governance implementation in postindependent Africa to date. It is an erudite examination of the African condition with respect to democratic ascendancy, scrutinized through a multifaceted lens. Drawing on both primary and secondary data sources, this volume sheds light on the elusive missing link in the African democratic experiment. As such, it is a compelling and carefully considered addition to the existing discourse on the subject.
African Democracy comprises eighteen substantial and engaging chapters authored by a diverse array of scholars specializing in various domains of African studies. Every section thoroughly delves into the debate surrounding the predicament of democracy on the continent and proffers a novel viewpoint on the matter. The opening chapter, titled “Africa’s Sense of Democracy,” provides a thorough analysis of the concept of democracy and its paradox in Africa. The next chapter, titled “The Struggles of Democracy in Africa,” examines the long journey that Africa as a continent has taken to embrace democracy. The third chapter is about “Emenyere,” which is the rediscovery of African home-grown concepts and practices of humanity. The fourth chapter of the volume, titled “Towards Democratic Participation,” highlights the irony between the theory and practice of democracy in Africa. Chapter Five, entitled “Individuals as Citizens…,” elucidates about imagining democracy in its local and global manifestations. Chapter Six is devoted to the topic of “Democracy and the Challenges of African Development,” which highlights the various factors that hinder the establishment of “decent democracy” in Africa. The seventh chapter of the volume, titled “Democratic Governance,” discusses the importance of embracing a moral way of life rooted in African communal traditions. Chapter Eight of this volume is titled “African Migration Trends” and provides an erudite analysis of migration issues and democracy on the continent. Chapter Nine, “The Rise of Neo-nationalism,” is about African democracy and the challenges it faces in recreating the nation through various forms of public agitation. The tenth chapter explores the topic of “Democracy and the Challenge of Religious Diversity.” It discusses religion as an identity marker and its role in politics in postcolonial Africa. Chapter Eleven, titled “Freedom of Speech and the Phobia of Conversation,” explores the complexities of democratic ideals and ways of expression in Africa. Chapter Twelve, titled “Equity/Equality,” looks at the puzzle of basic democratic values in Africa.
Chapter Thirteen, titled “Good Environmental Governance in Africa,” discusses alternative ways to combat climate change in Africa. Chapter Fourteen, “Succession and Democratic Dictatorships in Africa,” looks at the complex political situations in Africa today and how “African democracy” is responding to these challenges. Chapter Fifteen, titled “Democracy in Africa versus LGBTIQ and Women’s Rights,” examines how hollow democracy in Africa is in upholding the human rights of all categories. Chapter Sixteen, titled “The Interconnection of Poverty and Pandemics in African Democracies,” is about the relationship between pandemics and poverty in Africa, and how the African democratic system has failed to regulate them. Chapter Seventeen, titled “Covid-19: Politics, Economy and Governance,” addresses the challenges posed by the lockdown following the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as the human rights situation in Africa. Chapter Eighteen, titled “Charlott Mannya-Maxede…,” looks at the necessity of reconsidering women in the African sociopolitical arena.
In consideration of the complex tapestry of theoretical and empirical views on democracy in Africa, which can appear contradictory, the book makes a bold argument that Africa must rethink its democratic ideals and practices. The book explicitly and implicitly interrogates both the ideals and practices of democratic experimentation in contemporary Africa. The volume posits that it is incumbent upon the African continent to formulate a democratic system that is congruent with its own humanistic culture and history.
African Democracy is a significant milestone that adds a great deal of scholarly insight to the prevailing debate on democracy in Africa. It is an essential read for students in African politics, history, philosophy, sociology, and policymakers, as well as anyone interested in the issue of good governance in Africa more broadly. Moreover, it is an enthralling read and an invaluable addition to our understanding of democratic experiments in Africa to date, as well as offering a way out of this vicious circle.
At last, the immense scholarly contribution of Chimakonam and Negedu’s edited volume must be acknowledged, as it has been instrumental in furthering the ongoing discourse surrounding the establishment of an African ideology that will serve to enhance the present and future of the continent.
